Battery Loading and Unloading Mechanism

ABSTRACT

Erroneous insertion of a battery into an imaging device resulting from downsizing of the battery is prevented. In a battery loading and unloading mechanism for loading and unloading a battery  2  formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped and having an almost square main surface to and from a device (an imaging device  1 ) to be detachable equipped with the battery  2 , the battery  2  is formed with projecting portions  26, 27  at longitudinal both ends of a back surface thereof and along the back surface, the back surface being a surface opposite to an insertion surface of the battery inserted into the device, whereby even the battery formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped and having the almost-square main surface can be prevented from being erroneously inserted into the device. The projecting portion  27  has an inclined surface  271  acutely inclined with respect to the back surface, ana when the battery  2  is unloaded from the device, unloading of the battery  2  from the device is accelerated by the inclined surface  270  undergoing contact pressure of the retaining means. The device is formed with a notched portion  122  which is adapted to expose the other projecting portion  26  of the battery  2  when the battery  2  is loaded, thereby facilitating unloading of the battery.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present, invention relates to a mechanism for loading and unloadinga battery attached removably to a device which needs the battery.

BACKGROUND ART

As imaging devices represented by digital cameras have recently beenreduced in size and weight, batteries loaded in the imaging devices havebeen formed in a rectangular parallelepiped advantageous in downsizingand weight saving. Imaging devices employing a battery need to be formedfrom a rigid member that withstands bending moment in order to preventerroneous insertion of the battery or damage to the imaging device. Thishinders the downsizing and weight saving.

To solve the problem, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-317689 shows abattery 14 as depicted in FIG. 14. This battery 14 is formed in arectangular parallelepiped in which the length of an insertion-wise sideis greater than that of a widthwise side to prevent erroneous insertioninto an imaging device. In addition, an exterior package 140 of thebattery is formed with notched portions 141 on its sides, which reliablyprevents erroneous insertion and facilitates further downsizing andweight saving of imaging devices or the like attached with the battery14. The exterior package 140 is provided with terminals 142 connectedelectrically to terminals of an imaging device attached with the battery14. The number and positions of the notched portions 141 to be formedare determined so that an end. face 143 is asymmetrical. On the otherhand, a battery holder in the imaging device adapted to house thebattery 14 therein has almost the same inner shape as the outer shape ofthe exterior package 14. In addition, the battery holder is formed withprojections each of which engages a corresponding one of the notchedportions 141, 141 when the battery holder is housed therein.Incidentally, Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. Hei 11-307072, 2001-76700and Hei 11-3692 disclose batteries of the same type as that disclosed inJapanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-317689.

It has recently been requested to reduce the size and weight of devicessuch as imaging devices equipped removably with a battery, which hasneed to further downsize batteries. To further downsize the rectangularparalleiepipedic battery, it is only needed to form the battery to havealmost-square opposite surfaces. However, past batteries have noprojections on lateral surfaces and the devices mentioned above have notclear retaining portions for retaining the battery received therein. Forthis reason, the users have not grasped the positional relationshipbetween the battery and the retaining portions, leading to the highprobability that the users erroneously insert the battery into thedevice mentioned above.

It is assumed that a battery is formed to have almost square surfacesand the respective terminal contacts of the battery and an imagingdevice are off-center. In this case, even if the battery is insertedupside down or laterally-errorseously inserted into the device, theterminals of the battery do not contact those of the device, that is,the battery does not electrically contact the device. However, a batterycasing is liable to contact and damage the terminals of the device.

In view of the forgoing, the invention has been made and it is an aim ofthe present invention to provide a battery loading and unloadingmechanism that can prevent erroneous insertion of a battery into adevice resulting from downsizing of the battery attached removably tothe device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A battery loading and unloading mechanism according to the presentinvention is a mechanism for loading and unloading a flatalmost-rectangular parallelepipedic battery to and from a device to bedetachably equipped with the battery, and is distinctive in that thebattery is formed with projecting portions at longitudinal both ends ofa back surface thereof and along the back surface, the back surfacebeing a surface opposite to an insertion surface of the battery insertedinto the device, whereby even the battery formed in a fiat rectangularparallelepiped and having the almost-square main surface can beprevented from being erroneously inserted into the device,

The battery loading and unloading mechanism of the present invention isdistinctive in that the device includes retaining means for retainingthe battery, one of the projecting portions of the battery has ato-be-retained surface retained by the retaining means, theto-be-retained surface is set to a level lower than the back surface,whereby a portion retained by the retaining means is made clear.

The battery loading and unloading mechanism of the present invention isdistinctive in that the to-be-retained surface is a surface having africtional coefficient smaller than that of a portion of the backsurface other than the to-be-retained surface, whereby the portion tofoe retained is made clearer and can be more quickly retained.

The battery loading and unloading mechanism of the present .invention isdistinctive in that the projecting portion having the to-be-retainedsurface has an inclined surface acutely inclined with respect to theback surface, and when the battery is unloaded from the device,unloading of the battery from the device is accelerated by the inclinedsurface undergoing contact pressure of the retaining means.

The battery loading and unloading mechanism of the present invention isdistinctive in that the device is formed with a notched portion which isadapted to receive and expose the other projecting portion of thebattery at the time of loading the battery, thereby facilitatingunloading of the battery.

The battery loading and unloading mechanism of the present invention isdistinctive in that the battery is formed with projecting portionsprojecting in an inserting direction at both end portions of theinsertion surface, thereby preventing damage to the battery and to aterminal of the device when the battery is erroneously inserted.

The battery may have an almost square main surface.

The battery loading and unloading mechanism of the present inventiondescribed above can make clear a method of loading and unloading abattery to and from a device to be detachably equipped with the battery,whereby erroneous insertion of the battery into the device can beprevented.

Even the battery having an almost square main surface can be preventedfrom being erroneously inserted. In addition, the battery and theterminal of a device attached with the battery can be protected, thisdevice can be downsized, and mounting flexibility can be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1]

FIG. 1 includes schematic views depicting an embodiment of an imagingdevice attached with a battery of the present invention, in particular,FIG. 1A is a schematic view depicting the front of the imaging device,and FIG. 1B is a schematic view depicting the back of the imagingdevice.

[FIG. 2]

FIG. 2 includes schematic views depicting an embodiment of the batteryto be attached to the imaging device, and in particular, FIG. 2A through2F are schematic views depicting the lateral surfaces of the batteryaccording to the embodiment.

[FIG. 3]

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the battery.

[FIG. 4]

FIG. 4 is a schematic view depicting the inside of the imaging devicehousing the battery therein.

[FIG. 5]

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the imaging device attached with thebattery.

[FIG. 6]

FIG. 6 is a view for assistance in explaining a procedure for insertingthe battery into the imaging device.

[FIG. 7]

FIG. 7 includes views for assistance in explaining inserting operationof the battery.

[FIG. 3]

FIG. 8 includes views for assistance in explaining discharging operationof the battery.

[FIG. 9]

FIG. 9 includes views for assistance in explaining operation forpreventing erroneous insertion of the battery.

[FIG. 10]

FIG. 10 includes schematic views depicting an embodiment of a batteryattached to an imaging device, and in particular FIG. 10A through 10Fare schematic views depicting lateral surfaces of the battery accordingto the embodiment.

[FIG. 11]

FIG. 11 is a view for assistance in explaining a procedure for insertingthe battery into the imaging device.

[FIG. 12]

FIG. 12A is a view for assistance in explaining operation for insertingthe battery and FIGS. 12B and 12C are views for assistance in explainingoperation for preventing erroneous insertion of the battery.

[FIG. 13]

FIG. 13 is a schematic view depicting an embodiment of a locking claw.

[FIG. 14]

FIG. 14 is a schematic view depicting an existing battery.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 includes schematic views depicting an embodiment of an imagingdevice attached with a battery of the present invention, in particular,FIG. 1A is a schematic view depicting the front of the imaging device,and FIG. 1B is a schematic view depicting the back of the imagingdevice. FIG. 2 includes schematic views depicting an embodiment of thebattery to be attached to the imaging device, and in particular. FIG. 1Athrough 1F are schematic views depicting the side surfaces of thebattery according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspectiveview of the battery. FIG. 4 is a schematic view depicting the inside ofthe imaging device housing the battery therein. FIG. 5 is a schematicview of the imaging device attached with the battery. FIG. 6 is a viewfor assistance in explaining a procedure for inserting the battery intothe imaging device.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the imaging device 1 includes a zoom lever 101, ashutter button 102 and a microphone 103 located on an upper surfaceportion of a main body 10. In addition, referring to FIG. 4, the imagingdevice 1 includes an imaging lens 104, a flash 104 a, an AF illuminator104 b and a lens cover 105 located on a front portion of the main body10. The lens cover 105 slidably covers the imaging lens 104, the flash104 a and the AF illuminator 104 b. The AF illuminator 104 b emitsauxiliary light for focusing in a dark place.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the imaging device 1 includes a mode selectionswitch 106, a monitor 107, a menu button 108, a control button 109, ascreen display button 110, a screen size selection/screen-erasing button111, a speaker 112 and a reset button 113 located on the back portion ofthe main body 10. The control button 109 consists of a flash button 109a, a review button 109 b, a self timer button 109 c, a macro button 109a and a decision button 109 e. These constituent elements may adoptthose equipped in a known digital camera (e.g., a digital camera DSC-T3manufactured by Sony Corporation).

The imaging device 1 includes a housing portion 10 a for housing thebattery 2 as shown in FIG. 4, Referring to FIG. 5, the imaging device 1includes, on a lateral surface portion on a battery insertion side, apower button 100, a multi-terminal 114, a locking claw 115 serving asmeans for retaining the battery 2 when the battery 2 is inserted andattached inside the imaging device 1, a lid 116 serving as means forsealing the battery 2 attached, a strap lug 117 used to hold the imagingdevice 1 and an opening portion 118 (FIG. 6) adapted to receive thebattery 2. Incidentally, the strap lug 117 also serves to facilitateholding the digital camera by placing a thumb thereon.

The housing portion 10 a is provided with ribs 119 and a terminal plate120. The terminal plate 120 has spring-elastic terminals 121. The ribs119 come into contact with respective recessed portions 230 (FIG. 2)formed in the battery 2 when the battery 2 is housed in the housingportion 10 a. The terminals 121 are electrically connected to respectiveterminal contact portions 222 (FIG. 2) of the battery 2 when the battery2 is housed in the housing portion 10 a.

The locking claw 115 is provided movably in arrow directions of FIG. 6and biased in the direction of the opening portion 118 by a spring 115 bshown in FIG. 7. The locking claw 115 shown in the figure is formed withan inclined surface 115 a. The inclined surface 115 a serves tocompensate for the discharged amount of the battery 2. Morespecifically, when the battery 2 is unloaded from the imaging device 1,the locking claw 115 pressed by the contact pressure of the spring 115 bslides under a projecting portion 27 formed on a frame portion 21 of thebattery 2 with the aid of the inclined surface 115 a, therebyaccelerating the discharge of the battery 2. It should be noted that thelocking claw 115 needs only to retain the battery attached to theimaging device 1; therefore, it is not necessarily formed with theinclined surface 115 a, that is, the locking claw may be formed as shownin FIG. 13. A locking claw 13 is provided with a retaining portion 13 awhich is movable in a reciprocative manner by elastic deformation of aspring having the same configuration as the spring 115 b. The retainingportion 13 a is further provided with an auxiliary retaining portion 13b.

Referring to FIG. 3, the battery 2 includes a battery cell 20 having analmost-square main surface; a rectangular frame portion 21 housing thebattery ceil 20 therein; and a circuit board portion 22 disposed on theexternal surface of the frame portion 21. The battery 2 further includesa cap portion 23 which is attached to one end side of the frame portion21 and the battery cell 20 so as to put the circuit board portion 22between the external surface of the frame portion 21 and the cap portion23; and an external package film 24 integrally covering the battery ceil20 and the frame portion 21.

The battery cell 20 is formed by covering a laminated body (a batteryelement) with a film-like external package member. The laminated body isformed by sequentially laminating, for example, a positive pole piece, aseparator, a negative pole piece ana the like. Referring to FIG. 2, thebattery ceil 20 is formed in a fiat almost-rectangular parallelepiped bya first through fourth lateral surfaces 20 a to 20 d, and front and rearsurfaces 20 e, 20 f. The battery ceil 20 is projectingly formed with acell positive electrode portion 201 at an almost central portion of thefirst lateral, surface 20 a. In addition, the battery cell 20 is formedwith a cell negative electrode portion (not shown) at a central portionof the second lateral surface 20 b on the opposite side of the firstlateral surface 20 a. One end of a positive temperature coefficientthermistor (hereinafter, referred to as the PTC tab) 202 is connected tothe ceil negative electrode portion. The PTC tab 202 acts as a safetycomponent adapted to establish non-conduction at the time of hightemperature. The other end of the PTC tab 202 terminates at the thirdlateral surface 20 c of the battery cell 20. An insulating paper 203 isinterposed between the third lateral surface 20 c of the battery cell 20and the PTC tab 202.

The frame portion 21 is made of an electrically insulating syntheticresin and formed like a quadrate frame. The first through fourth sides21 a to 21 d of the frame portion 21 are respectively superposed on theexternal surfaces of the first through fourth lateral surfaces 20 athrough 20 d of the battery cell 20.

The first side 21 a of the frame portion 21 superposed on the firstlateral face 20 a of the battery cell 20 is formed with a cell positiveelectrode portion fitting window 211. The cell positive electrodeportion fitting window 211 is adapted to receive the ceil positiveelectrode portion 201 fitted thereinto. The third side 21 c superposedon the third lateral surface 20 c of the battery cell 20 is formed witha notched portion 212 that an end of the PTC tab 202 faces. In addition,the third side 21 c is formed with a slit 214, at the end thereof closeto the first side 21 a, adapted to introduce a negative electrode tab213 inside the third side 21 c. A spacer 212 a is attached to thenotched portion 212.

The frame portion 21 is formed at its bottom portion with a flange-likeprojection 215 adapted to support the bottom of the battery ceil 20. Inaddition, the frame portion 21 is formed at its upper portion with aflange-like projection 216 which extends along the upper edge of thesecond side 21 b and faces the flange-like projection 215. An endportion of the battery cell 20 on the side of the second lateral surface20 b of the battery cell 20 is gripped between the projections 215, 216.

The height of the second, side 21 b of the frame portion 21 is set equalto the height (thickness) of the housed battery cell 20 encountered atthe time of charging or of most expansion resulting from hightemperatures.

The first side 21 a of the frame portion 21 is provided with a circuitboard attachment portion 217 on its external surface. The circuit boardattachment portion 217 is formed between a pair of upper and lower capsupport portions 218 which is projectingly formed at upper and lowerends, respectively, of the external surface of the first side 21 aincluded in the frame portion 21. The cap support portion 218 isprovided with a plurality of cap portion retaining claws 219.

The circuit board portion 22 includes a base plate 221, a plurality ofterminal contact sections 222, electronic components and a transfer mold223. The base plate 221 is formed of an insulative synthetic resin suchas glass epoxy phenol, etc. The terminal contact sections 222 areattached to the external surface side of the base plate 221. Theelectronic c exponents and the transfer mold 223 which molds theelectronic components therein are attached to the interior surface sideof the base plate 221. The circuit board portion 22 is fixedly assembledand put between the frame portion 21 and the cap portion 23 with apreset (slight) gap defined between a leading end of the transfer mold223 and the frame portion 21.

One end portion 225 a of a positive electrode tab 225 is joined bywelding to a terminal portion 224 formed at one end of the circuit boardportion 22. The other end of the positive electrode tab 225 is joined tothe cell positive electrode portion 201 by welding. An insulating paper226 is interposed between the circuit board portion 22 and the positiveelectrode tab 223. One end 213 a of the negative electrode tab 213 isjoined to a terminal portion 227 formed at the other end of the circuitboard 22 by welding.

The positive electrode tab 225 is made of a metal plate such as a nickelplate, etc. and formed like an almost-L shape. The metal plate issubjected to the so-called annealing to facilitate bending. The almost-Lshaped positive electrode tab 225 has a long side connected to thepositive electrode tab 225 and a short side connected to the terminalportion 227 formed at the one end of the circuit board portion 22.

Similarly, the negative electrode tab 213 is made of a metal plate suchas a nickel plate, etc. and formed like an almost-L shape. The almost-Lshaped negative electrode tab 213 has one end 213 a, formed at its shortside, connected to the terminal portion 227 formed at the other end ofthe circuit board portion 22. In addition, the negative electrode tab213 has the other end 213 b, formed at its long side, which is led tothe inner surface side of the frame portion 21 via a slit 214 formed inthe third side 21 c of the frame portion 21 and is connected to the PTCtab 202.

The cap portion 23 includes a rectangular end face portion 231 and atubular portion 232. The end face portion 231 is superposed on theexternal surface of the first side 21 a of the frame portion 21 via thecircuit board portion 22 (with the circuit board portion 22 sandwichedbetween the end face portion 231 and the external surface of the firstside 21 a) attached to the circuit board portion attachment portion 217.The tubular portion 232 is contiguous to the end face portion 231 and isfitted to the one end side of the frame portion 21 and the battery cell20.

The end face portion 231 of the cap portion 23 is formed with aplurality of terminal windows 233 that the terminal contact portions 222of the circuit board portion 22 face. The tubular portion 232 is formedwith a plurality of claw engaging holes 234 in the upper and lowersurface thereof. The claw engaging holes 234 are each engaged with acorresponding one of the cap portion retaining claws 219 provided on thepair of upper and lower cap portion support portion 218 of the frameportion 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of upper and lower cap support portions 218of the frame portion 21 are provided with a plurality of projections 218a projecting toward the circuit board, portion 22. The projections 218 acome into abutment against the circuit board portion 22 at positionswhere the transfer mold 223 is sandwiched between the circuit boardportion 22 and the projections 218 a and at portions on which theelectronic components are not mounted, when the terminal contact portion222 of the circuit board portion 22 is pressurized by the counterpartterminals.

The external package film 24 is made of a synthetic resin such aspolyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC),etc, and formed, into a sheet having a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.1mm. The battery ceil 20 is housed in the frame portion 21, the circuitboard portion 22 and the like are attached to the frame portion 21, andthe cap portion 23 is covered, thereon. Thereafter, the external packagefilm 24 is wound around the frame portion 21 to cover the front and backsurfaces of the battery cell 20 and integrally unites the battery cell20, the frame portion 21 and the cap portion 23. Incidentally, a modelplate film 25 is attached to the external package film 24.

The frame portion 21 is formed on the edge portions Of the second side21 b with projecting portions 26, 27 which extend in the lengthdirection of the side. This makes it possible to prevent the erroneousinsertion of the battery 2 into the imaging device 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the projecting portion 26 is formed in an almostrectangular parallelepiped. The imaging device 1 is formed on .its.lateral surface with a notched portion 122 which is adapted to receivethe projecting portion 26 exposed to the outside when the battery 2 isloaded on the imaging device 1. The notched area of the notched portion122 is set equal to or greater than the installation area of theprojecting portion 26 relative to the frame portion 21 of the battery 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the projecting portion 27 is formed in an almosttrapezoid in cross-section to have an inclined surface 270. In addition,the projecting portion 27 is formed with a to-be-retained surface 271which is retained by the locking claw 115 when the battery 2 is loadedon the imaging device 1 and the locking claw 115 retains the battery 2.

Setting the height of the to-be-retained surface 271 at a level lowerthan the surface of the frame portion 21 makes clear the portionretained by the locking claw 115. In addition, the locking claw 115undergoing the contact pressure of the spring 115 b can be restrained.The to-be-retained surface 271 has a smaller frictional coefficient thanthe peripheries of the to-be-retained surface 271. This makes clearerthe portion to be retained. Further, the locking claw 115 becomesslipperier; therefore, it is restrained quickly.

Inserting operation of the battery 2 is described with reference toFIGS. 6 to 9.

As shown in FIG. 6, the battery 2 is inserted into the imaging device 1with the surface of the battery 2 having the terminal contact sections222 facing the opening portion 118 of the imaging device 1. At thistime, as shown in FIG. 7A, the battery 2 is inserted into the imagingdevice 1 with the locking claw 115 pulled with a finger. As shown inFIG. 7B, the bottoms of the recessed portions 230 of the battery 2 comeinto contact with the ribs 119 in the imaging device 1 and the battery 2is fitted into the imaging device 1. At this time, the locking claw 115is released from the finger, being slid on the to-be-retained surface271 in the direction of the battery 2 by the contact pressure of thespring 115 b, and retains the to-be-retained surface 271, therebyretaining the battery 2. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7C, the lid 116 isclosed to seal the battery 2 in the imaging device 1. At this time, theterminals 121 provided on the terminal plate 120 of the imaging device 1are each brought into electrical connection with a corresponding one ofthe terminal contact portions 222 of the battery 2 while beingcompressed resulting from elastic deformation.

Next, when the battery 2 is to be removed, as shown in FIG. 8A, thelocking claw 115 is pulled with a finger (not shown) in a direction oflateral arrow. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the battery 2 undergoesthe contact pressure of the terminals 121 on the terminal plate 120 toproject in the direction of arrow. When released from the finger, thelocking claw 115 is biased by the spring 115 b urging it in thedirection of the opening portion 118 (FIG. 6) to move in the directionof lateral arrow as shown in FIG. 8C, At this time, since the projectingportion 26 of the battery 2 is exposed to the outside of the imagingdevice 1, the battery 2 can be easily taken out by placing fingers onthe projecting portions 26, 27. If the locking claw 115 is formed withthe inclined surface 115 a, the locking claw 115 is slid under theprojecting portion 27 while the inclined surface 115 a is brought intocontact with the inclined surface 270 of the projecting portion 27.Thus, the discharged amount of the battery 2 can be compensated for sothat the battery 2 further projects. This makes it possible to take outthe battery 2 further easily.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, if the battery islaterally erroneously inserted into the imaging device 1, the projectingportion 26 meets one of the ribs 119 and the lateral surface of the capportion 23 meets the other rib 119. In this case, since a portion of thebattery 2 protrudes from the main body of the imaging device 1, thelocking claw 115 cannot retain the battery 2 and the lid 116 cannotclose the opening portion 118.

As shown in FIG. 9C, if the battery 2 is inserted into the imagingdevice 1 upside down, the ends of the cap portion 23 of the battery 2meet the ribs 119. Also in this case since a portion of the battery 2protrudes from the main body of the imaging device 1, the locking claw115 cannot retain the battery 2 and the lid 116 cannot close the openingportion 118.

As shown in FIG. 9D, if the battery 2 is inserted into the imagingdevice 1 in a back-to-front manner, the projecting portions 26, 27 ofthe battery 2 meet the edge of the opening 118 of the imaging device 1so that the battery 2 cannot be inserted into the imaging device 1.Consequently, the locking claw 115 cannot retain the battery 2 and thelid 116 cannot close the opening portion 118.

As described above, the battery 2 is prevented from being erroneouslyinserted into the imaging device 1, so that any damage to the terminals121 of the imaging device 1 resulting from erroneous insertion of thebattery 2 can be avoided.

A battery 2A according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 10 may be formedat both ends of a cap portion 23 with projecting portions 28, 29 whichproject in the direction of insertion and differ from each other inshape. This can prevent erroneous insertion of the battery 2A into theimaging device 1. The projecting portion 28 is formed almost trapezoidin cross-section and the projecting portion 29 is formed in an almostrectangular parallelepiped.

The inserting operation of the battery 2A is described with reference toFIGS. 11 and 12.

As shown in FIG. 11, with the locking claw 115 pulled with a finger inthe direction of arrow, the battery 2A is inserted into the imagingdevice 1 while the surface of the battery 2A having the terminal windows233 faces the opening portion 118 of the imaging device 1. As shown inFIG. 12A, the bottoms of the recessed portions 230 of the battery 2Acome into contact with the ribs 119 in the imaging device 1 and thebattery 2 is fitted info the imaging device 1. At this time, the lockingclaw 115 is released from the finger, being slid on the to-be-retainedsurface 271 in the direction of the battery 2A by the contact pressureof the spring 115 b, and retains the to-be-retained surface 271, therebyretaining the battery 2A. Thereafter, the lid 116 is closed to seal thebattery 2A in the imaging device 1. At this time, the terminals 121provided on the terminal plate 120 of the imaging device 1 are eachbrought into electrical connection with a corresponding one of terminalcontact portions 222 of the battery 2A while being compressed resultingfrom elastic deformation.

As shown in FIG. 12B, if the battery 2A is inserted into the imagingdevice 1 upside down, each of the projecting portions 28, 29 of thebattery 2A meets a corresponding one of the ribs 119. In this case,since a portion of the battery 2A protrudes from the main body of theimaging device 1, the locking claw 115 cannot retain the battery 2A andthe lid 116 cannot close the opening portion 118. In addition, thedistance between the cap portion 23 of the battery 2A and the ribs 119of the imaging device 1 is maintained to an extent that both do not comeinto contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 12C, if the battery 2A is laterally erroneouslyinserted into the imaging device 1, the projecting portion 26 of thebattery 2A meets the lip of the opening 118 of the imaging device 1 sothat the battery 2A cannot be inserted into the imaging device 1. Thelocking claw 113 cannot retain the battery 2 and the lid 116 cannotclose the opening portion 118.

As described above, the battery 2A can be prevented from beingerroneously inserted into the imaging device 1, so that any damage tothe terminals 121 of the imaging device 1 resulting from the erroneousinsertion of the battery can be avoided.

Like the batteries 2, 2A, even a battery having an almost square mainsurface can be prevented from being erroneously inserted. In addition,the battery and the terminal of a device attached with the battery canbe protected, this device can be downsized, and mounting flexibility canbe enhanced.

The batteries 2, 2A described in the above embodiments are applied tothe imaging device 1. However, application of the battery according tothe present invention is not limited to imaging devices and the batterycan be applied to devices which need a battery, other than the imagingdevice.

1. A battery loading and unloading mechanism for loading and unloading aflat almost-rectangular parallelepipedic battery to and from a device tobe detachably equipped with the battery, wherein the battery is formedwith projecting portions located at longitudinal both ends of a backsurface thereof and extending along the back surface, the back surfacebeing a surface opposite to an insertion surface of the battery insertedinto the device, whereby even the battery formed in a flatalmost-rectangular parallelepiped and having an almost-square mainsurface can be prevented from being erroneously inserted into thedevice.
 2. The battery loading and unloading mechanism according toclaim 1, wherein: the device includes retaining means for retaining thebattery; one of the projecting portions of the battery has ato-be-retained surface retained by the retaining means; and theto-be-retained surface is set to a level lower than the back surface,whereby a portion retained by the retaining means is made clear.
 3. Thebattery loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 2, whereinthe to-be-retained surface is a surface having a frictional coefficientsmaller than that of a portion of the back surface other than theto-be-retained surface, whereby the portion to be retained is madeclearer and can be more quickly retained.
 4. The battery loading andunloading mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the projecting portionhaving the to-be-retained surface has an inclined surface acutelyinclined with respect to the back surface, and when the battery isunloaded from the device, unloading of the battery from the device isaccelerated by the inclined surface undergoing contact pressure of theretaining means.
 5. The battery loading and unloading mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein the device is formed with a notchedportion which is adapted to receive and expose the other projectingportion at the time of loading the battery, thereby facilitatingunloading of the battery.
 6. The battery loading and unloading mechanismaccording to claim 2, wherein the device is formed with a notchedportion which is adapted to receive and expose the other projectingportion at the time of loading the battery, thereby facilitatingunloading of the battery.
 7. The battery loading and unloading mechanismaccording to claim 3, wherein the device is formed with a notchedportion which is adapted to receive and expose the other projectingportion at the time of loading the battery, thereby facilitatingunloading of the battery.
 8. The battery loading and unloading mechanismaccording to claim 4, wherein the device is formed with a notchedportion which is adapted to receive and expose the other projectingportion at the time of loading the battery, thereby facilitatingunloading of the battery.
 9. The battery loading and unloading mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein the battery is formed with projectingportions projecting in an inserting direction at both end portions ofthe insertion surface, thereby preventing damage to the battery and to aterminal of the device when the battery is erroneously inserted.
 10. Thebattery loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 2, whereinthe battery is formed with projecting portions projecting in aninserting direction at both end portions of the insertion surface,thereby preventing damage to the battery and to a terminal of the devicewhen the battery is erroneously inserted.
 11. The battery loading andunloading mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the battery is formedwith projecting portions projecting in an inserting direction at bothend portions of the insertion surface, thereby preventing damage to thebattery and to a terminal of the device when the battery is erroneouslyinserted.
 12. The battery loading and unloading mechanism according toclaim 4, wherein the battery is formed with projecting portionsprojecting in an inserting direction at both end portions of theinsertion surface, thereby preventing damage to the battery and to aterminal of the device when the battery is erroneously inserted.
 13. Thebattery loading and unloading mechanism according to claim 1, whereinthe battery has an almost square main surface.
 14. A flatalmost-rectangular parallelepipedic battery which is formed withprojecting portions located at longitudinal both ends of a back surfacethereof and extending along the back surface, the back surface being asurface opposite to an insertion surface of the battery inserted into adevice.
 15. The battery according to claim 14, wherein one of theprojecting portions of the battery has a to-be-retained surface retainedby retaining means provided for the device adapted to receive thebattery inserted thereinto, and the to-be-retained surface is set to alevel lower than the back surface.
 16. The battery according to claim15, wherein the to-be-retained surface is a surface having a factionalcoefficient smaller than that of a portion of the back surface otherthan the to-be-retained surface.
 17. The battery according to claim 16,wherein the projecting portion having the to-be-retained surface has aninclined surface acutely inclined with respect to the back surface. 18.The battery according to claim 14 which is formed with projectingportions projecting in an inserting direction at both end portions ofthe insertion surface.
 19. The battery according to claim 14 which hasan almost square main surface.